Vacuum-cleaner.



J. B. GEARHART.

VACUUM CLEANER.

Patented July 25, 1911.

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Patented July 25, 1911.

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JOSEPH E. GEARHART, OF CLEARFIELD, PENNSYLVANIA.

VACUUM-CLEANER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 25. 1911.

Application filed July 30, 1910. Serial No. 574 :636.

T 0 11. 7 whom itmaa concern:

Be it. known that T, Josuru l]. GEARIIAR'I,

a citizen of the United t tates, residing at.

um-Cleaners, of which the following is a specification. reference being bad to the accompanying drawings;

This invention is an improved vacuum cleaner for use in cleaning carpets, rugs, and the like, the invention consisting in the construction, combination and arrangement. of devices hereinafter described and claimed.

One object of the invention is to effect improvements in the construction of the bellows which creates the exhaust currents of air that operate to remove the dust and dirt particlesv from the surface or material cleaned by the machine.

A further object is to provide improved means for operating the bellows.

Tn the accompanying drawingsFigure 1 is a side elevation of a vacuum cleaner constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal central sectional View of the same. Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view of the same. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of' the frame of the machine.

The frame 1 of my improved vacuum cleaning machine is preferably a casting. The cross bar 2 which forms the rear end thereof is provided in its ends with a pair of upwardly extending arms 3. The sides 4 correspond in height at their rear portions with the rear cross bar 2 and are connected together at a suitable point in advance of the rear cross bar 2, by means of a web 5 which comprises a rear transverse portion 6, side arms 7 having-upwardly converging front portions 8, an intermediate arm 9 which extends forwardly from the center of the transverse portion 6, and a vertical transverse portion 10 which connects the front ends of the said arms 8, 9. On the inner sides of the side portions 4 of the frame are mounted a pair of driving and supporting wheels 11, which are here shown as mounted on stub axles 12. The said wheels are 'connected together by a crank 13 which is disposed eccentrically with reference thereto. 1

My improved vacuum cleaner is provided with a pair of bellows 15, 16 arranged one,

above the other, and disposed longitudinally in the frame. Each bellows has the usual angularly movable side. that of the bellows 15 being indicated at 17, and that of the bellows 16 being indicated at 13, a longitudinal centrally disposed body 19 being pro vided which is common to and disposed between the bellows, and forms the interme diate fixed side for each of them. The said body is connect ed at its front end to the portion 10 of the frame, and at its rear end to the arms 3. The usual leather or other flexible fabric 20 connects the intermediate body of the bellows to the sides 17, 18 thereof. and is provided with a longitudinal intake duct 91 which extends from its front end to within a suitable distance of its rear end. and a discharge duct 22 which is open at its rear end and is separated from the intake duct by a partition or wall 23. The intake opening 94 of the upper bellows 15 is in the upper side of the duct. 21, that of the lower bellows 16 being indicated at 25 and in'the lower side of'asaid duct. Valves 96, 27 which are here shbwn as flap valves are provided for the said intake openings respectively, and open toward the movable sides of the bellows. The discharge openings 28, 29 for the bellows are respectively in the upper and lower sides of the duct 22,

and are respectively provided with valves pitmen 33, the upper ends of which are.

here shown as pivotally connected to the side edges of the side 17 by the same bolts 34 which are employed to secure the upper ends of the said links 39 to the said side.

It will be understood from the foregoing description that when the'machine is operated and the wheels caused to rotate by frictional contact with the carpet, ru floor or other surface, on which the niaeiine is used, the links and crank, and pitman connection between the movable sides of the bellows and the wheels will cause the said movable sides of the bellows to operate simultaneously and in the same direction, so

that air will be drawn into one bellows at the same time that air is bein discharged from the other, and converse y, the said bellows acting alternately to create an exhaust current of air through the duct 21, and to discharge air through the duct 22.

The suction spout 35 is connected to the front end of the duct 21, and is provided at its lower downwardly curved end with a laterally broadened exhaust nozzle 36 which bears and runs over the carpet, rug, or other surface which is being cleansed, and hence. the exhaust: current of air through the said nozzle and caused by the operation of the bellows, sucks up all of the dust and dirt particles, and the same are carried through the exhaust duct, and discharged from the discharge duct into a suitable bag or other suitable receptacle 37 which may be of usual ('t)1"lSllLt(!ll()Il, and is here shown as attached at its outer end to a handle 38, the said handle having a bail 39, the sides of which are provided with inturned studs 40 which engage openings 41 in the sides of the frame 1, near the rear corners of the latter,said bail and openings effect a pivotal connection between the handle and the frame of the machine and enable the machine to be readily pushed forward or back as may be re uired in the operation thereof.

ly'improved vacuum cleaner is extremely cheap and simple, and is thoroughly eflicicnt and is not likely to get out of order.

I claim The herein described vacuum cleaner comprising a frame having a bottom provided with a transverse opening near its rear end,and also provided at its front end with a verticalportion, and at itsrear end with a vertical cross bar, and vertical sides, supporting wheels in said opening in the bottom of the frame, and having their bear-- ings in the said sides, a crank connecting the supporting Wheels, a pair of bellows carried by the frame, and comprising an intcrn'iediate body common to the bellows and secured at its ends to the said vertical front portion of the frame, and to the said vertical cross bar thereof, said pair of bellows also comprising a movable side for each bellows, and the said body having an exhaust duct, a discharge duct and exhaust and discharge 'valves for said ducts respectively, links connecting the movable sides of the bellows for simultaneous movement, and pitmcn connected to the crank and also to the said links and operating together with the wheels and the said crank in the said opening in the bottom of the frame.

In testimony whereof I hereunto attix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH E. GEARHART.

lVitnesses PERRY E. HURD, 0. P. CONKLIN. 

